Tutor Doctor

Trusted In-Home Tutoring
The Doctor is In!

By Rajayne Cordery

Tutor Doctor is an in-home service that offers a nurturing remedy to those struggling with academic trials. Providing one-on-one tutoring, the Tutor Doctor model far exceeds those afforded by group learning centers and in-school help. Why? Because it is offered in familiar surroundings. How familiar is a mentor at the kitchen table? It is a comfortable fit thats proven to facilitate learning in the home, which is where it originates to begin with!

Misty Lathem Sheffield, the director of Tutor Doctor in Cherokee County, describes her experience. She was searching for an alternative for her child who needed extra help in math. In-home tutoring was the answer. The convenience of someone coming into my home was perfect, Misty says. At the table, her child was able to say, This is what I dont understand. It took the tension out of the relationship with my kids because I wasnt fighting the homework battle, says Misty.

Misty worked as a paralegal for over twenty years before opening Tutor Doctor in Cherokee County. She knew she wanted to do something for families in particular. Realizing that there was something inside of her that was not being fulfilled, she entered the tutoring business because she says, I need the feeling of giving something back.

The concept of one-on-one, in-home tutoring is an individualized program that works. Tutor Doctor currently uses thirty-plus tutors composed of teachers, retired teachers and college students who service over sixty students of all ages, from kindergarten through college as well as adult students, in all subjects. The tutor match is of the utmost consideration. College engineering students make fabulous math tutors, Misty offers. 

How does it work? When a person calls me and says their child needs help, I sit with them in their home and meet with the parents and student, Misty explains. A consultation follows as the child is assessed. What is your favorite subject? Least favorite? What do you want to be when you grow up? These are big questions, but there is a way to reach those dreams and make them real. Tutor Doctor strives to do just that. 

Through the evaluation process, Misty can get an individualized idea of each child. I can get an idea, and then, I can match them with the right tutor. She adds, We call it the magical match. By combing through tutors and finding a connective personality, the academics come much more easily. It makes a difference, Misty says. She may match a baseball player with a child who loves ball. Its about the connections. The prompting and care of a considerate academic mentor make it happen. That creates the success.

Tutor Doctor currently serves more than sixty students of all ages, though the bulk of those students are in middle school and high school because classes become more challenging.  Professionals are amongst the group as well as youngsters. All academic disciplines are promoted with a personal touch to guarantee individual success.

For those concerned, ACT Success tutoring offers a quick reward in a six to eight week preparatory class. With a pending scholarship, three more points on the ACT make all the difference. Misty smiles, reflecting on a conversation, Yes, my daughter got into Georgia after taking  your ACT Success class. Thank You!

ACT Success tutoring is offered individually and in small groups. Students can form their own group, for example, athletes who share the same practice schedule, or they can join an existing small group. The ACT or SAT test scores are now considered a far better indicator of who is going to succeed in college than GPAs that are subjectively weighted. Tutor Doctor tutors are trained and awarded an ACT certification to teach the proper curriculum and facilitate the necessary test-taking strategy. Tutor Doctor uses a highly successful program to teach students how to manage the test for the highest possible scores.

Misty shares in the experience of her students, I really enjoy helping students succeed. It is very rewarding. There is an emotional side involved in tutoring as well. Misty recalls the story of a young girl who moved to Cherokee County from Kentucky. She was behind Georgia standards, due to different curriculum requirements, and she didnt like school anymore. She just needed help to get caught up. Tutor Doctor did just that. Misty says, She likes school again. Shes feeling smart again. What a gift for a struggling child! That attitude lasts, as confidence is instilled. When a tutor says you are bright, it is different than [when] a parent [says it], says Misty.

Tutor Doctor offers help for academic struggles in a home environment. The heart is there. All parents want their children to succeed and to realize their dreams. Give them a gentle shove, an extra hand, a smile that understands their potential.

Winston Churchill said, Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts. Tutor Doctor encourages the ability to succeed through personally created relationships.

To learn more about how tutoring can take the tears out of homework and the tension out of report-card time, contact Misty Lathem Sheffield at 770-224-7447, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at TutorDoctor.com.